D’Orc #3 makes a unique departure from the formula established by the previous two issues. While writer/artist/creator Brett Bean still packs the issue full of all the blood and black humor that’s made this one of Image’s biggest hits, he doesn’t bring in D’Orc until the halfway part of the book (in a truly hilarious way, of course). Instead, most of the focus goes to the dwarven warrior Gloinspear, who’s on the hunt to kill D’Orc.
This shift in focus allows Bean to put his own spin on another classic fantasy trope: the warrior dedicated to eradicating evil. Other stories paint this type of character as a noble figure, fighting against insurmountable odds. Bean, on the other hand, shows how that mentality can give way to obsession, as Gloinspear viciously beats down anyone or anything that stands in his way. One panel depicts just how far he’s willing to go, stomping into a bar and tearing it apart.
This sequence is chilling in hindsight, especially as it features Gloinspear harassing innocent people at the bar – and culminates with him beating a cook to death. If that wasn’t enough, Nate Piekos’ lettering gives a glimpse into the madness that drives the dwarf, repeating a single phrase: “I will not be stopped.” Piekos starts to shift these letters until they grow bigger and bigger, consuming nearly half a panel with the rest featuring a body turning into a pool of blood and broken bones under Gloinspear’s fists. In one page, D’Orc #3 showcases the thin line between heroism and zealotry.
Gloinspear and D’orc’s eventual confrontation also brings a new sense of energy to D’Orc #3. While D’orc tries to avoid fighting when he can, the fact that this dwarf won’t leave him alone pushes him to start a fight. Ironically, the one time D’orc starts a fight is the one time he actually ends up on the losing end, as Gloinspear’s trained for years while he usually depends on his Death Shield and his inherent magical abilities to carry him over the edge. Bean does not hold back on the gore, either: while D’orc gets in a good kick that bloodies Gloinspear’s face, he soon finds himself literally under the dwarf’s boot and is soon turned into a barely twitching mess. Even his shield doesn’t give him an advantage!
I love the use of colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu, as they really highlight just how much danger D’Orc is in. When D’Orc runs afoul of Gloinspear, it’s a bright and sunny day filled with lush green shrubbery. But as the fight goes on and on, the background slowly shifts into a reddish-orange tone to match the bloodshed that both combatants are engaged in. Lest you think D’Orc #3 is all bloodshed and insanity, Bean’s script still keeps plenty of the humor that makes it such a great read. I couldn’t help but laugh when D’Orc said he got “hammered”, as that literally happens to him during his fight with Gloinspear.
D’Orc #3 brings a different approach to its storytelling, yet never loses the humor or bloody violence that makes it a must-read comic. If you’re wanting to see why this comic is quickly becoming a fan favorite, now’s the time.
